Molded pallet for palletized containers

ABSTRACT

A MOLDED PALLET FOR USE IN CONJUNCTION WITH PALLETIZED CONTAINERS. THE DEVICE INCLUDES AN INTERGRALLY MOLDED PERIPHERAL TROUGH ENGAGEABLE WITH THE LOWER EDGES OF FIBROUS OR PLYWOOD PANELS FORMING THE SIDE WALLS OF A CONTAINER. CLIPS ARE PROVIDED WHICH ARE SEM-PERMANENTLY INTERCONNECTED TO THE LOWER EDGE OF THE SIDE WALL OF THE CONTAINER, AND RESILENTLY ENGAGE WITH A BEAD ON THE EDGE OF THE PALLET BORDERING SAID TROUGH, WHEREBY REPLACEMENT OF A DAMAGED SIDE WALL IS FACILITATED. REPLACEABLE SIDE WALLS MAY ALSO BE USED TO ENGAGE THE TROUGH ON THE PALLET IN THE ABSENCE OF THE CLIPS, WHERE THE CONTAINER IS STRAPPED IN CONVENTIONAL FASHION, OR OTHERWISE INTEGRATED.

May 1972 J. a. KUPERSMIT 3,664,570

MOLDED PALLET FOR PALLETIZED CONTAINERS Filed Nov. 25, 1970 United States Patent 3,664,570 MOLDED PALLET FOR PALLETIZED CONTAINERS Julius B. Kupersmit, 145-80 228th St, Springfield Gardens, New York, N.Y. 10013 Filed Nov. 25, 1970, Ser. No. 92,679

Int. Cl. B65d 19/06 US. Cl. 229-23 R 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A molded pallet for use in conjunction with palletized containers. The device includes an integrally molded peripheral trough engageable with the lower edges of fibrous or plywood panels forming the side walls of a container. Clips are provided which are semi-permanently interconnected to the lower edge of the side wall of the container, and resiliently engage with a head on the edge of the pallet bordering said trough, whereby replacement of a damaged side wall is facilitated. Replaceable side walls may also be used to engage the trough on the pallet in the absence of the clips, where the container is strapped in conventional fashion, or otherwise integrated.

This invention relates generally to the field of collapsible reusable bulk shipping containers of the type described in my prior Pat. No. 3,443,737 granted Apr. 13, 1969, and more particularly to an improved molded pallet for use therewith. Reference is also made to my co-pending application Ser. No. 857,838; filed Sept. 15, 1969, now Pat. No. 3,5 80,618 which discloses a means for interconnecting the replaceable side walls of such containers to a wood pallet so that the pallet may be reused in the event that the side walls are damaged during shipment.

While the above constructions have proven successful in use, for some types of shipment, conventional wood pallets have proven less than adequately durable. Where the containers are roughly handled by inexperienced or careless truckers, the skids become broken and the floors fractured, so that useful life is relatively short, albeit normally adequate for more than one use.

It is therefore among principal objects of the present invention to provide an improved molded pallet construction form from synthetic resinous materials having high strength and substantial resiliency, combined with total weight which is substantially less than a comparable wood pallet.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of an improved molded pallet of the class described, in which the durability may far exceed that of a conventional wood pallet, in sufiicient degree to more than justify the added cost of fabrication.

Yet another object of the invention lies in the provision of an improved molded pallet construction having means integral therewith for the detachable engagement of replaceable side walls forming part of a container, whereby when the walls have become damaged or sufficiently deteriorated, they may be conveniently replaced at minimum cost.

These objects, as well as other incidental ends and advantages, will more fully appear in the progress of the following disclosure, and be pointed out in .the appended claims.

In the drawing, to which reference will be made in the specification, similar reference characters have been employed to designate corersponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary exploded view in perspective of an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view of the embodiment, showing the component parts in assembled condition.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view in perspective showing a peripheral corner portion of the molded trough forming a part of the pallet.

Briefly stated, the invention contemplates the molding of the pallet by vacuum or injection processes from a suitable synthetic resinous material, such as a polypropylene in sheet form to include recesses for the engagement of a forklift truck, and including a continuous trough at the periphery thereof whereby the lower edges of cardboard or plywood side walls may be conveniently engaged, such edges being thereby protected against damage. The trough interconnects with the remaining parts of the pallet at a beaded edge which forms a means for resilient engage-i ment with clips mounted on the lower edge of the side walls of the container, whereby when the lower edges of the walls are inserted into the trough, the clips engage the beaded edge to maintain this condition.

In accordance with the invention, the device, generally indicated by reference character 10, is in the form of a single synthetic resinous molding. This may be accom plished by vacuum molding, where relatively limited quantities are required, or by injection molding, where increased volume justifies the cost of the more complicated mold members. The device includes a plurality of horizontal bottom wall numbers 11, 12, and 13; as well as a plurality of vertical wall numbers 14, 15, 16 and 17. Bounding the device are a pair of peripheral side walls 18 and 19, and a pair of peripheral end walls 20 and 21. Upper horizontal walls '22 and 23 interconnect the vertical wall numbers 14-17, and are provided with reinforcing ribs 24, as are the horizontal wall numbers 11-13, inclusive. A continuous head 25 is provided with enlarged portions 26 at periodic intervals. A trough forming member 27 interconnects at the head 25, and includes an inner wall 28, a curved lower wall 29 and an outer wall 30 terminating in an upper edge 31.

Engaged within the trough forming member 27 is a continuous side wall panel 32, the lower edge 33 of which is provided with resilient clips 34 which resemble to some degree those described in my above mentioned co-pending application. Each clip includes an outer planar number 35 and an inner planar number 36 engaging opposed surfaces of the panel 32 as well as a curved loop member 37 the diameter of which in stressed condition corresponds to that of the enlarged portions 26.

A complete shipping container is assembled as shown in FIG. 1, wherein the side panels, equipped with clips 34 are manually pushed into engaged condition as shown in FIG. 2. Where the container is of substantial size, this engagement can be assisted by stepping upon the curved loop numbers 37 to spread the same to a point where they pass the enlargements on the beaded edge. A conventional top (not shown) may then be engaged with the upper edges of the wall number, as shown in my above mentioned patent.

Should the side wall panel become damaged, or should it deteriorate due to exposure to the elements, it is conveniently replaced by overcoming the spring tension of the clips, and pulling the same from engagement with the trough forming member.

I wish it to be understood that I do not consider the invention limited to the precise details of structure shown and set forth in this specification, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.

I claim:

1. The combination of (a) a molded pallet for use in conjunction with a palletized load container comprising: a

plurality of first horizontal wall members disposed in a first plane, a plurality of second horizontal wall members disposed in a second plane parallel to said first plane, a plurality of vertical wall members interconnecting said first and said second wall members; a continuous vertically disposed peripheral wall interconnected to said above mentioned horizontal and vertical wall members, said wall having a beaded upper edge; and a substantially continuous trough forming structure interconnected to said beaded edge and co-extensive therewith, said trough forming structure having an upwardly opening continuous recess for the engagement of a lower edge of a continuous side wall; and (b) a fibrous replaceable container side wall, said side wall having a lower edge engaged within said recesss.

2. Structure in accordance with claim 1, said side wall having a plurality of clip members on said lower edge, resiliently engageable with said beaded edge on said pallet.

4 References Cited M. HENSON WOOD, JR., Primary Examiner R. W. THI'EME, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 108-51; 2l743 A 

